Up next: Packers

October 20, 2013|By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter

Quick look: All eyes will be on quarterback Jay Cutler and his groin injury, but the Bears also sent wide receiver Brandon Marshall and linebacker Blake Costanzo to the X-ray room immediately after Sunday's loss and linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman were unable to finish. The off week comes at an ideal time for the Bears, with a practice not scheduled until Oct. 28. The Packers have already been hit with injuries. Wide receiver Randall Cobb is on injured reserve/designated to return and wide receiver James Jones didn't play in Sunday's win over the Browns. Linebackers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry are also sidelined.

Key stat: The Bears have been blanketed by Green Bay's defense in recent years. Cutler is 1-7 starting against the Packers since joining the Bears in 2009, including the postseason, and the Bears have not scored more than 20 points in any of the games. There's no guarantee he will be able to go Nov. 4.

Key matchup: Bears CB Charles Tillman vs. Packers WR Jordy Nelson. The Bears have been waiting to get Tillman a breather for a couple of weeks now with a right knee injury, and with any luck he'll be in a better spot next time out. Nelson is one of the few top targets that was still standing for Aaron Rodgers at the end of Sunday's win as tight end Jermichael Finley was carted off with a neck injury. The team said he had movement in all of his extremities. Nelson is averaging 16.1 yards per catch and has five touchdowns.